A panel of senior Scotland Yard officers and prosecutors are to meet next week to decide what action to take over claims that MPs misused parliamentary expenses.

Officials will assess whether criminal inquiries are necessary in the wake of a surge in the number of complaints from members of the public.

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Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer have decided to establish the panel, a spokesman said.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Metropolitan Police have issued a joint statement.

The move follows several days of speculation as to whether any criminal inquiries would be launched.

It said: “Before the recent media exposure about alleged misuse of parliamentary expenses, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner instigated meetings between the Metropolitan Police and CPS in relation to a number of allegations made to police.

“Due to the increase in subsequent allegations received by the Metropolitan Police, the Commissioner and Director of Public Prosecutions have jointly decided to convene a panel to assess allegations in order to decide whether criminal investigations should be started. A panel, comprising officers and a senior CPS lawyer, will commence a series of meetings next week.”

Campaign groups have threatened to launch private prosecutions if the Metropolitan Police will not investigate.

Technically, the police are unable to start an investigation until an allegation or a formal complaint is made.

It is understood some senior officers are unwilling for the force to become embroiled in another complex political inquiry. Previous political probes included investigations dubbed cash-for-honours, donorgate and lords-for-hire.